Folding bedstead.



No. 648,304. Patented Apr. 24, I900.

A. F. aum-:11. FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

(Application filed May 25, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet I.

Tu: NORRIS pzrzas co, wnom-Llrno. msumsvorv. n c.

No. 648,304. Pat ent ed A r. 24, mooI A. F. RUUT IEB. FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

(Application fi led May 25, 1899.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shani 2.

TNE NORRIS PEYERS co. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, 0, c4

No. 648,304. Patented Apr. 24, I900. A. F. ROUTIER.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

(Application filed May 25, 1899.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

FIG-.10-

FIG-.Il-

2' 22/011 (Q I xzz'a THE uonms PETERS co Palm-Alma, msumcn'on, 04 c.

No. 648,304. Patented Ap r. 24, I900.

' A. F. RUUTIER.

Fowma BEDSTEAD.

(Application filed. May 25, 1899.) 7 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

FlG 16 0 0 H 4 2 r p d e t n e t a P. R E T u o R F A A" 0 8 4 B. 0 .N

FOLDING BEDSTEAD. (Application filed. m 25, 1899.)

5 Shaots-8heet 5.

(No Model.)

zmgwew m: uonms PCTERS co more: mm, wnsnmumu. n. c.

. ambulance furniture and the like.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AIME FRANQOIS ROUTIER, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,304, dated April 24, 1900. Application 11 a May 25,1899. senate. 718,202. on model.)

To a, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AIME FRAN OIs RoU-l TIER, of 4 Boulevard Denain, Paris, in the Republic of France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding or Collapsible Bedsteads, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a folding or collapsiblebedstead particularly intended for explorers and the members of colonial or military expeditions, but which may be also usedfor rest in the garden or as a piece of camp or The said folding or collapsible bedstead is characterized by the manner in which it bears or rests on the ground by means ofsu pporting crosspieces connecting together the standards or posts at the ends and which are distributed over the whole-length of the bedstead. The said cross-pieces afford a comparatively large surface of support and allow of-fitting, upthe bedstead on any ground whatever, however soft or irregularit may be, without any risk of the bedstead sinking down or of its being rocky. This particular arrangement of the cross-pieces offers, therefore, a very great, ad:

' vantage over the similar foldingor collapsible bedsteads now in use for camp or other purposes, and which always rest on legs offering each but a very small bearing-surface, and which sink down when the ground is soft or are partly off ground whenthe latter is irregular. teristic my system of folding or collapsible bedstead is very remarkable for its lightness, solidity, small compass when folded, and the facility with which it can be set up and folded. It can also be used as a stretcher by fitting handles to the standards. Incertain cases it can be transformed into a bench by turning the bedstead upside down.

In the different forms of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings the construction only comprises simple and compact parts or members, which are easily put together in a few minutes, even in the dark.

Figure 1 of the said drawings is a side elevation of the first form of my folding or collapsible bedstead. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, the cloth being removed. Figs. 3 and 4 areend views taken, respectively, at the head and foot of the bedstead. Fig. 5

Besides the above essential'characshows the detail of the connection or joint of one of the cross-pieces. Fig. 6 represents in elevation, section, and plan, respectively, a detail of one of the cross-pieces. Fig. 7 is an elevation and a cross-section on the line A A respectively, a detail of the cross-pieces. Fig.

12 represents two sections of a cross-piece on the lines B B and O C, respectively, of Fig. 8. Fig. 13 represents front and side views, re spectively, of a device for hooking the crosspieces. Fig. 14 is an elevation of the third form of folding bedstead. Fig. 15 is an end view of the same. Fig. 16 represents in'elevation the bench obtained by transforming the folding or collapsible bedstead. Fig. 17 is a side View of the same. Fig. 18 is. atop plan view of the bench. Fig. 19 shows the bedstead as being folded. Fig. 20 is a front view of a modified form of bench obtained by transforming the folding or collapsible bedstead, and Fig. 21 is a section on the line D D of Fig. 20.

The folding or collapsible bedstead shown in Figs. 1 to 7 comprises two longitudinal a stud f, so arranged as to abut against the adjacent part a or c when the bedstead is unfolded. The standards or posts g and-h, pivoted to the ends of the cross-pieces a, b, and c, are connected by stays i and j is with the part b of the said cross-pieces. standards are also held in position by crossbars m, connecting together the head-posts h, and by small stays n, connecting the footposts 9, supported by the said posts g. The cloth p forming the bed is fixed at one end to the roller 0 and at the other end to a roller q, supported by the posts h. The stays fare in one piece. They are pivoted or jointed to the part b of each cross-piece at a point adjacent to the pivot d. Their free ends are provided with a hook which engages one of the holes r in the plate 8, integral with each of the posts 9. The stays j and 7c are formed in two The said I stea"'d,'the 'st-ay-s-jtmaybe hooked into-different}- g holesintheplatesg Removable anaI srmay; be .-fixed;to theppo'stsg and h by any; suitable; fasteningmeans; The-said handles ma gir nee?"- essary-,b:e reinforced-by-wirestays 8,hook ed to; thelower ends'ofithe posts'gandhf By-means :of the said handles the-bedstead mays-beYcar-p r'iedt-by hand in the same way as astretch'erQ parts fitting one in the other, the part j being pivoted or jointed to the post It near the upper end of the latter and the part It being pivoted or jointed to the part b of the crosspiece near the pivot e. A stud t is fixed in the tube j and enters freely into the tube It. The ends of each tube are reinforced by-fixed ferrules u. The cross-bars m are both piv-' oted at 'v to the posts h, and their hooked ends engage a ring 00, fixed to the opposite post.

it are provided with bearings 1, one of which is providedwitha spring-pawl 2, engaging a ratchet-wheel*3,'fixedr to the roller q. The" cloth-pis-runofi by turning the roller-q byhand, and-the tension of the same is maintainedbythe springepawl 2, which is engaged in :the ratchet-wheel 3. The parts a b (a -of each-cross-piece are formed by anironplate- 4, bent into U shape, the hollow part being filled up with wood. For the purpose of giva Toyfold the bedstead,- the cloth"p is'un j stretched, the'rollers 0 and'q are removed from their beari-ngs', the several cross-bars and stays are unhooked,'and the two'halves of theb'ed}.

steadjwhichare alike, are folded separately ingbring'in'g th'e posts 9 and h onto the partsaand c and then the latter alongside the part" b. Each half'of th'ebedsteadwh'en folded,- 1 I Fig.'-: 7-,only' occupies a very small compass.

The bedsteadshowninEigs; 8 to 13 com prises-cross-pieces divided into three parts 9 1O "11, theirends being pivoted together bypivots 12 'andg13. v Studs'14 arefixedtothe ends of the parts 9 and 11.

The standards or posts 14 'and-15, pivoted to the-ends of each cross-piece, are connectedwith the part 10 by stays 16 and one to the other by'crossbars217. The said posts are provided with bearings l for the rollers o and q, to which the cloth p is fixed. The posts and the parts 9 and :11 of'the cross-pieces are formed byiron plates bent into Us shape, the hollow .partrbeingfilled upwith wood. The part lO-is formed by an'inner wooden part and an outer sheet- The small stays n are pivoted to studs 7 y, fixedonthe roller 0, and their-hooked ends-v engage rings a, fixed to the posts g. to support the rollers 0 and q, the posts g and In order 2 l I I 648,304

metal part, thevertical wall 22 of which projects upward and is provided with holes 23 to receive the hooked ends of the stays 16. The said stays 16 are formed in two parts connected togetherby a pivot 24, engaged in lugs 25, which areintegral with the said parts, the axis of the pivot being placed to one side in order to permit of the two halvesof each stay coming together the one against the other.

The endsof the two parts are cutaway half through their thickness and cover each other ,to a certain distance. ,The said parts may be maintained in afixed position the one opposite theother by means of amovable brace or ring 26, which slides freely on the upper part of the stay 16. To lock each of the stays 16 to the plate 22, a flat spring 27, fixed to the ;p'art10, is curved in such a manner as to come,

when free, opposite the corresponding hole 23 andengage a notch provided on the bent end 28 of'the stay 16 when' the latter'isput'in place. This'forrn of the folding or collapsible bedstead may, like the one hereinbefore described, be used as a stretchera'ndcan be'v folded into a very-sinall'hcoinpass.

Figs; '14 17019 show afolding bedstead which t-ofiers the 1 characteristic --arran ge1nent above described, but ofswhicjh the longitudinal crosspieces are su tficien tly wideto'afford, when the bedstead'fis'turned' upside down-and th'e Sides {of thej'same ,are'brought :toward each other,

a se'atin'the form of-a,'bench. 1 Each ot-the 1twoYSyminet'rical' parts of l the. bedstead coni- Lp'rises a,=-logitudina l wooden cross-piece-in two lpitiffisf30fihdf31,Yhitvi'ngja "square Econ-nection r.-.; .T-wd-st'andardSiio f posts 32 and '33 are pivoted;to' theparty/31 ibyneansl oft the suitable? ;hi nges 34, 5 Stays, 35 ia'reipivo'ted to the' endsofthe posts 32and 33, and the hooked endsvot tb'eisaid stays 35 engage in hol'es 360E .thepartf31, where they-,n aybemaintained by spring-catches or any'othersnitable fastening device; .Transversel-y-the said posts are-connected together; by cross-bars 3 7, "pivoted'to' each of theposts', their-free ends beinghooked and engagi ng rings or staples38, fixed ,"respectively, to the opposite crosspieces or parts. Rollers 39 and 40, to which is fi'xeda cloth 41,

are supported'by the posts 32and33 bymeans .of semicircular or other suitable bearings.

One'of'the saidrollersis provided {with a ratchet-wheel 42, against which acts a spring- Ferrules- 44,

pawl 43',- fixed'to the, post'33; having sockets, are fixed'to the posts 32and 33 to receive handpiec'es, which will permit of carryi'ngthebedstead in the same maner as a stretcher.- transform the bedstead into a bench, the

When it is required to cross-bars 37 are unhook'ed, the two symmetrical parts of thebedstea'd are brought toward each' other,v and; the cross-bars 37 are then hooked into the staples 45, fixed near the ends of the said posts. The bedstead'may then be turnedhpside down, when it will have the appearance of a vbench. To makethe said bench more solid, hooking devices may be arranged under the cross pieces or parts 30. The devices shown in the drawings consist of hasps 46, pivoted to one of the parts.

30, and which engage staples 47, fixed in the other part 30. This form of folding bedstead will be readily taken to pieces and folded into a very small compass, as shown in Fig. 19.

Figs. and 21 show a modification of the form of bedstead just described, and in which the cross-pieces are pivoted at their middle by means of hinges 51, whereby the bedstead is reduced in length by one-half when folded. When this form of bedstead is turned upside down and thus transformed into a bench, the required rigidity can readily be given to it, despite the moving joint or connection, by means of hangers, sliding cross-pieces, or any other equivalent device. As shown in the drawings, the device consists of hangers 48, pivoted at the under side of the cross-pieces 49 in the middle of the latter, the said hangers being connected to the ends of the said 'cross-piecesby means of wires50. Thestays 52, maintaining the posts 53 and 54 in position, are in two parts, pivoted or connect ed together in any suitable manner as, for example, by means ofthe hinge shown in Fig. 11.

1. A folding or collapsible bedstead comprising, in combination, two supporting crosspieces sufficiently wide to serve as seats when the width of the bedstead is reduced and the bedstead is turned upside down thus transq forming it into a bench, standards or posts pivoted to the ends of each cross-piece, stays connecting the ends of the standards or posts with the corresponding cross-pieces, crossbars consolidating the said standards transa Versely, a cloth, two rollers on which the cloth is mounted, and means for supporting the rollers and stretching the cloth between the standards or posts, the said supporting-stays and cross-be rs being detachably connected at one end, whereby the bedstead is rendered collapsible and the Wholeof the parts may be folded into a very small compass, substantially as shown and described.

2. A folding or collapsible bedstead, comprising two supporting side pieces or rails adapted to be brought together to transform the bedstead into a bench, standards or posts pivoted to the ends of each side piece, longi-.

tudinal stays extending between the ends of the standards or posts and the corresponding side pieces or rails and removably connected to one of said parts, two rollers adapted to be mounted on the posts, when the side pieces are separated, a fabric mounted on the rollers, means for stretching the fabric, and braces for the standards or posts when the side pieces are either brought together or separated, substantially as shown and described.

3. A folding or collapsible bedstead, comprising two longitudinal side pieces or rails arranged approximately parallel with each other, head and foot posts or standards mounted respectively at the ends of the side pieces or rails, bearings on the posts or standards at each end of the bedstead, rollers removably held in the bearings, afabric supported on the rollers, transverse braces for the posts or standards pivoted at one end and detachably connected at the other end and braces extending between the posts or standards and the side pieces or rails and pivotally connected with one of said parts and adjustably connected with the other, substantially as described.

4. A folding or collapsible bedstead having two longitudinal side pieces or rails provided with openings, head and foot posts mounted on the side rails, rollers mounted on the head and foot posts, a fabricsnpported on the rollers, means for stretching the fabric, stays connected with the posts and having ends rails, and springs for holding the stays in position, substantially as described.

5. A folding or collapsible bedstead having two longitudinal side pieces or rails provided with openings, head and foot posts mounted on the side rails, rollers mounted on the head and foot posts, a fabric supported on the rollers, stays connected with the posts and having bent ends adapted to engage the openings in the side rails, fiat springs connected with the side rails and adapted to engage notches on the bent ends of the stays when the latter are in position, and braces for the said posts,'substantially as described.

6. Afolding or collapsible bedstead having twolongitudinal side pieces or rails, head and foot posts mounted respectively at the ends of the side pieces, the said side pieces or rails being adapted to be brought together to serve as a bench or to be separated when the'device is to serve as a support for a fabric, crossbars forming stays for the posts in.either of said positions, and fastening devices for rigidly connecting the side pieces when brought together, substantially as described.

7. A folding or collapsible bedstead, comprising two supporting side pieces or rails, the said side pieces being adapted to be broughttogether to form a bench, standards orposts connected with the ends of the side pieces, stays connecting the standards or posts with the side pieces, transverse crossbars forming braces for the sai'd standards or posts, when the side pieces or rails are brought together, a series of hasps pivoted to the inner face of one of the side pieces or rails, and corresponding staples on the other side piece and adapted to be engaged by the said hasps, when the said side pieces are brought together, substantially as described.

8. A folding or collapsible bedstead, comprising two longitudinal side pieces or rails adapted to be brought together or separated, standards or posts pivoted to the ends of each side piece or rail, braces connecting the standards or posts with the corresponding side pieces, cross-braces for strengthening said standards or posts when the side pieces are either brought together or separated,t woroll-' ers adapted to be mounted on the posts, a fabric carried by said rollers, means for stretching the fabric, and fastening devices, comprising coacting members located on the side pieces or rails and arranged to lock together :when the side pieces are brought together,

substantially as described. 7 g 9. A folding or collapsible bedstead having to side rails formed in sections pivotallyjoined together, the said side rails being adapted to be brought together to form a bench or separated to serve as a support for a fabric, head and foot pieces mounted on the side rails, braces or stays extending between the posts and the side rails,brac'es or stays for the posts, "devices connected with the side rails 'for im parting rigidity to the side rails at the joints of the sections, and locking devices on the side rails forrigidly'connecting the side rails v 1 when broughttogether to form a bench, substantially as described." 1 v p j 10. A folding or collapsible bedstead having"side rails formed in sections pivotally joined together-,head and foot posts mounted on the side rails, rollersarranged to support (a fabric and adapted to be mounted" on! the saidfpost's, hangers pivoted to the side pieces or rails and connected bywires to the said I theiside P S: r rails,"substantiallyoas'described.- r

sidepiecesyan'd stays or braces made insec; tions and extending between the posts and foldingfbedstead having two -'1ongi-f tudinal side pieces or rails each comprising two longitudinal members arranged at approximately right angles to each other, one ofsaidmembers being provided with holes, standards or posts pivoted to one of the members of each side piece or rail, stays pivoted 40 to the ends of the posts and having hook ends adapted to engage the said holes in the side pieces, means for fastening the hook ends of said stays in position, cross bars or stays extending between the posts for holding the same in position, rollers supported by the posts or standards, a fabric supported by the rollers,and means for stretchingthe fabric between the rollers,substantally as described.

12. 'A folding bedstead,comprising two lon- 5o gitudinal side pieces or rails each comprising two members arranged' at angles to each other, standards or postspivoted to one of the members of each side piece 'or' rail, stays extending between the posts and the sidepieces or fra'ils, the said side' pieces or rails being adapted tobe brought together toserve as a bench or to be'separated when the device is i to serveas'a snpportforafabric, :and crossbars forming staysfo'r the posts in'either of i said posit-ions,substantially, as described.

Signedat Paris,'France, this 12th day of May, 18992- i I o, A F A TQO liQUTIER "W'itnesses .QF; 4 J. EUGENE 'WATT-IER, G oRG s BYORDEAU. a P 

